Electrical binding post



Feb. 6, 1940.

A. HILADO ELECTEyIGAL BINDING POST Filed April 18, 1939 Patented Feb. 6 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l ELECTRICAL BINDING Pos'r Alfonso Hilado, Silay, 1 L Application Apiril 18, 1939, Serial No. 268,590 3 Claims. (or 173-259) The invention relates to electrical binding posts of the type in which a spring is operatively interposed between the cooperating parts.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- -'5 vide a spring actuated binding post of simple construction which may be conveniently manipulated and which effectively performs its intended function when in use.

Spring actuated binding posts known to the art are generally of such a character as to require 3 the use of two hands to operate them, one for manipulating the parts of the binding postwhile the other manipulates and inserts the conductor into the post. It is, however, often inconvenient convenient place or because one of the hands may not be available at the time the post is-to be operated. In such cases, it is of great'advantage if the binding post can be operated with one hand only. I v

The principal feature of the invention, generally stated, consists'in providing the binding post with a post member upon which a sleeve is slidably and rotatably mounted and operatively interposing between the post member and the sleeve member a spring which normally tends to separate said members, the post member being formed with an opening for receiving an electrical conductor, and the sleeve member being provided with a bayonet slot adapted to receive and form a shoulder for engaging said conductor when the latter is positioned in the said opening of the post member.

There are other features of the invention residing in particularly advantageous forms and constructions as will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred em bodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved binding post in its open or unused position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the position assumed by the parts when a conductor is firmly clamped thereto.

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation.

' Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

The binding post comprises a post-member I, a sleeve or cap member 2 and a compression spring 3 interposed between the post member and the cap. The post member, which may be of brass or any suitable conducting material, is

preferably formed as a round stud having an annular reduced portion4 of suitable width and depth out completely around the member I intermediate of its length. By this means, the stud I is caused to be provided with a head 5 and a basal flange 6. The cap or sleeve member 2 is T of such size as to slip snugly over both the spring 3 and the outer end portion or head 5 of the stud. After it has been placed on the stud in such position as to compress the spring 3 very slightly, its lower edge or rim is flanged or bent 1 inwardly all around, as indicated at I, so as to catch against the shoulder 8 at the junction of the reduced portion 4 and head portion 5 of the stud, thereby holding the parts in assembled relation.

Extending inwardly from the periphery of the head portion of the post member I is a hole or opening 9 wherein the conductor I0 is to be inserted. This hole is preferably drilled horizontally completely through the post member I along 20 a diameter of its circular head portion 5 and a convenient distance above the inner end of said head.

The sleeve or cap member 2 is provided at opposite sides with angular openings II for receiv- 2!! ing the conductor III, said openings being of the type generally known as bayonet slots. Each bayonet slot has a portion or branch I2 which permits the conductor III to be inserted in holes I I of the post member I without moving the cap to compress the spring; and each slot also has a branch or'portion providing a shoulder or recess I3 for cooperating with said conductor to hold the spring 3 against expansion after it has been compressed by an inward movement of the sleeve 35 I or cap member 2 with respect to the stud or post member I. When the conductor is inserted into the opening 9 of the stud, the cap 2 may be compressed downward a sufficient distance against the resistance of the spring 3, twisted in the right 40 may be performed with one hand only, the con- 5 ductor being held between the palm of the hand and the little and ring fingers while the cap is manipulated by means of the thumb and the other two fingers.

The binding post may be affixed to the object '5 where it may be needed in the conventional way either by means of a screw and a threaded hole in the bottom of the stud member or by a threaded shank projecting from the bottom of the stud member and a nut fitting thereon. For purposes of illustration, the screw and threaded hole form of means for securing the binding post to the object to which it is to be attached and for electrically connecting a conductor [4 to the binding post have been illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Both the bottom of the post 'or stud member I and the top of the sleeve member or cap 2 may be insulated as in many other binding posts common to the art.

What I claim is:

l. The improvement in binding posts of the type comprising a post member, a sleeve member mounted upon said post member and slida-j ble and rotatable with respect thereto, and a spring operatively interposed between said post member and sleeve and compressible by the latter against the top of the post member; wherein said post member is provided at its periphery between its ends with a hole for receiving an electrical conductor, and wherein said sleeve is provided with a slot adapted to receive said conductor, said slot having a portion adjacent the inner end of said sleeve normally in register with said hole and extending ina direction enabling said spring to be compressed between the post member and sleevewhile the conductor is posie tioned in said hole, said slot also having a portion spaced from the inner end of said sleeve adapted to be brought into register with said hole when said spring is compressed and said sleeve is rotated relatively to said post member, said last named portion of the slot providing a shoulder adapted to be maintained in engagement with the conductor by said spring to clamp the conductor to the post.

2. The improvement in binding posts of the type comprising a post member, a sleeve member mounted upon said post member and slidable and rotatable with respect thereto, and a spring operatively interposed between said post member and sleeve and compressible by the latter against the top of the post member; wherein said post member is provided with a hole for receiving an electrical conductor and with an abutment, and wherein said sleeve is formed with a flange to engage said abutment and is provided with a slot adapted to receive said conductor, said slot having a portion adjacent the inner end of said sleeve normally in register with said hole and extending in a direction enabling said spring to be compressed between said post member and said sleeve while the conductor is positioned in said hole, said slot also having a portion spaced from the inner end of said sleeve adapted to be brought into register with said hole when said spring is compressed and said sleeve is rotated relatively to said post member, said last named portion of the slot providing a shoulder adapted to be maintained in engagement with the conductor by said spring to clamp the conductor to the post.

3. The improvement in binding posts of the type comprising a post member, a sleeve member mounted upon said post member and slidable and rotatable with respect thereto, and a spring operatively interposed between said post member and sleeve and compressible thereby; wherein said post member is provided between its ends with a hole for receiving an electrical conductor, and wherein said sleeve is provided with a plurality of bayonet slots adapted to receive said conductor while the latter is positioned in said hole, said slots being normally in register with said hole and being so located that said sleeve will maintain said conductor in position in said hole when said sleeve is pressed inwardly with respect to said post member and then twisted and released.

ALFONSO I-HLADO. 

